Bayou Icon | It’s a Beautiful Day in Monroe

ARTICLE BY GEORGIANN POTTS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

It is something of a miracle that Roy Heatherly isn’t still living in St. Louis, cheering on his beloved St. Louis Cardinal baseball team. He readily admits that one of his earliest career aspirations was to play baseball for the Cardinals or at least to be their announcer. Fast forward to today and Roy is leading the Monroe Chamber of Commerce to new levels of growth and accomplishment. A consummate team player, Roy is also working closely with several organizations including Sterlington’s Business Alliance, Richwood’s Business Alliance, West Monroe, and the newly formed GrowNELA to lift the entire region’s business presence. Because of his outstanding leadership; boundless enthusiasm; and genuine love for Monroe, Ouachita Parish, and this region, Roy Heatherly is our December Bayou Icon.

One of Roy Wesley Heatherly’s favorite childhood memories is going with his father to the last game of the 1964 baseball season. There the two watched the St. Louis Cardinals win the National League pennant. Roy says that it was that experience that solidified his lifelong love for baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals. He remembers having a little white transistor radio that he used to listen to Harry Caray and Jack Buck each night during baseball season.

Roy speaks lovingly about both of his parents, calling them the “best parents ever!” His father Walter was one of 8 brothers in Lafollette, Tennessee. He spent his entire career working for F.W. Woolworth Company except for what Roy calls “a six-year European vacation from 1941 to 1946.” Roy’s dad served in the Army, landed at Le Havre after the Normandy invasion, and was in Europe. His mother Rosabelle (Rose Lester) grew up during the depression in Bristow, Oklahoma. Roy remembers her as the most fun person he has ever met. “My mom and dad were, and will always be, my heroes,” Roy says.

The Early Years
Roy was born in 1956 in St. Louis, Missouri, but didn’t spend his entire childhood there. His dad’s work moved the family from St. Louis to San Antonio. Later they moved back to St. Louis, and then to Wichita, Kansas. As a result, Roy split his school years between St. Louis (Long Elementary) and Wichita (Peterson Elementary). From junior high (Mayberry Junior High) through high school (Wichita West High), Roy lived in Wichita. Roy was active in many things growing up, but sports were clearly at the top of his list – especially baseball, football, and wrestling. “I loved to compete, and I loved being part of a team,” Roy explains. “Right now I’m on Team Monroe – possibly the best team I’ve ever been on!”

Roy counts family – parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and his sister – as his mentors during his early years. He also says that his sister Jeanne Bitler always had his back. From his dad, Roy learned discipline and hard work. From his mom, he learned to have fun. Both taught him the value of loyalty and a good character. Roy’s father’s strong faith was key to Roy’s own spiritual growth.

Roy also remembers teachers along the way who have been mentors. These include Mrs. Ferris (3rd grade teacher who taught him to love to learn), Mrs. Reed and Mr. Dole (Junior High math teachers who taught him discipline in learning), Mr. Blakemore (High School speech teacher who taught him confidence), and Professor Chuck Chowins (at the University of Kansas who taught him to love journalism). Roy learned the importance of hard work and sportsmanship from several coaches through the years, and also admired players Stan Musial and Bob Gibson.

Finding a Career Path
When Roy entered the University of Kansas, he really didn’t have a specific career in mind, although he considered coaching. He was a “walk-on” and made the football team at Kansas. “Once I knew that I could compete with those athletes but realized that I would never play, I ‘retired’ and focused on school and work,” Roy remembers. 

After trying out several majors, Roy settled on Radio, TV, Film Journalism. He loved it, and had a radio show on the university station. There he did the news and at one point was the voice of the Lady Jayhawks for their home games. (Roy admits that he still loves watching Jayhawk basketball.) It was during his last two years that Professor Chowins introduced him to advertising and newspapers. 

With degree in hand, Roy took a radio job at KKOY/KQSM in Chanute, Kansas, where he spent a year “going broke.”  “At one point I had to give blood to get a baloney sandwich just to eat,” he remembers. After that demoralizing experience, Roy looked for work in Texas but couldn’t land a job even though the state was booming. He finally returned to Tennessee where his parents were. During that drive home, Roy had a life-changing experience. “I pulled over to the side of the road and gave my life over to the Lord,” he says. Within a few weeks, Roy was working at The Jackson Sun (Jackson, TN). There he worked first in sales, then became Marketing Director, and then Advertising Director. 

Roy soon met Beth Garland at a dance studio where Roy was taking tap dance lessons. Roy had agreed to be in a ballet and Beth was in the ballet company. “Beth is the most beautiful person I have ever met – inside and out,” Roy says. “For me it was love at first sight. It took her a couple of years to realize that.”

A 37-Year Love Affair with Newspapers 
Roy’s newspaper career began in sales and morphed into sales management. In 1991 he joined the News-Star in Monroe as Advertising Director. Fortunately for us, he fell in love with Monroe during that stint, thanks in part to good friends like Roy and Terri Arthur. “We had a blast personally and professionally,” Roy recalls. “We launched new products and really impacted the community.”

All along, Roy’s professional goal was to be named Publisher at the Sun. In December 2007 Roy achieved that goal.  He returned to the Sun as President and Publisher. “I loved that paper, those I worked with, and that market,” Roy recalls. I got to meet lot of cool people then including George W. Bush and Laura, Tony Blair, and Condoleezza Rice.” 

Only a year after becoming Publisher, Roy began dealing with the recession. The internet was exploding, dooming newspapers. “It was when the industry began to decline. Managing that paper and my friends through those challenges was both heartbreaking and rewarding. Those were dark days as I had to lay off many friends and colleagues who had taught me the business,” Roy remembers. Roy was hired as President and Publisher at the Wichita Eagle in 2015. Then in 2017 after successfully selling off the paper’s assets and downsizing its staff, Roy was himself “eliminated.”

Roy’s newspaper career had been rewarding and challenging. Along the way, his work was recognized for excellence. He won the President’s Ring twice at Gannett, and received several community awards including the Community Jacksonian Award from the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation while Publisher of the Sun.

Suddenly, after 37 years in the newspaper business, Roy was 61 and without a job. Wife Beth “unretired” and returned to teaching. Roy found work as a sponsored executive for the United Way of the Plains in Wichita. He worked himself into a full-time job and was eventually named VP of Philanthropy for that United Way.

The Monroe Chamber Needs a President
When the Monroe Chamber’s President and CEO retired, Roy saw a new opportunity for service. He watched Mayor Friday Ellis’ first State of the City video on Easter morning 2021. As the video was finishing, Roy’s daughter Emma called him, begging him to move back to Monroe. “I saw that there was something special happening in Monroe led by Mayor Ellis and that special continues on today,” Roy says. “The next week I was on a zoom interview begging the search committee to hire me.”

Roy had previous chamber experience. While in Jackson, Tennessee, he had served on several chamber committees and was Chairman of the Board for the Jackson Chamber, one of the most successful and highly respected Chambers in the country. When working at the News-Star, Roy also served on committees and worked closely with Mike Neal, then President and CEO of the Monroe Chamber. Roy had seen the Monroe Chamber move the business and general communities forward, and believed that he could help continue that.

On June 1, 2021, Roy began his first day as President and CEO of the Monroe Chamber. The “fit” is a good one for both. Roy admits that he has always been passionate about helping businesses and individuals. “I enjoy helping people and organizations connect to become successful. Whatever role I had in newspapers I knew it served a greater good for the community,” Roy explains. “The Chamber has the same role, especially in a world with so many channels to get information.”

Roy praises his board, staff, and community volunteers with equal enthusiasm. Roy describes his board as “passionate” people who “believe deeply in our mission.” To date he has worked with four chairs (John Landry, Tania Hilburn, Jay Mulhern, and Jeremy Harrell) and is eager to work with the 2025 Chair, Aimee Kane. He describes his staff (Terri Arthur, Daphne Garrett, Mike Downhour, Ashley Dowling, and ULM intern Haley Wiley) as simply “the absolute best staff in the world” – saying that they work hard but have fun every single day. “I am blessed by them and their talents,” Roy says. “They are passionate warriors for our members and our community. Most days I get out of the way and them rock ‘n roll!” Additionally, our friends at Kinetix (Liz Pyle, Caitlin Billingsly, Sawyer Ryder, Kyle Boutin, Joel Istre, Carmin Velsaquez, Michael Crenshaw, Will Smith, Chris Lyons and Amanda Chenevert) have played a huge part in our success.

As for community volunteers, Roy is equally impressed by the work done here by them. “Volunteerism speaks to the DNA of a community,” Roy says. “It speaks to our soul. Our giving back speaks to who we are. We rise by lifting others. Helping others helps our businesses.”

When asked recently what he thinks makes the Monroe Chamber well-placed in terms of consumer satisfaction and loyalty, Roy suggested there are several. First, Sue Nicholson and her staff had done a great job in building a solid foundation. Next on his list are the people and their level of involvement. “The Chamber board launched 11 committees to grow this community and create an environment so local business can thrive. In doing so, our board recognized the work of our predecessors, the impact of their work, and said we will stand on your shoulders to move us forward,” Roy explains. “We are witnessing incredible growth and progress. There is a contagious enthusiasm and sense of pride spreading throughout this part of the state, and Monroe is leading the way. Our Leaders of Change are the foundation for that enthusiasm. We have a newfound feeling of confidence that makes others take notice and want to be a part of this journey.”

Roy firmly believes that trust is one of the pillars on which our region’s success will be built. “For too long, others have defined us and positioned us,” Roy says. “If we as a community – regardless of our role – will put the community first instead of our own interests, we will all win, and win big!” he insists. “If Monroe wins, the region wins. If West Monroe wins, the region wins. The same goes for Sterlington, Richwood, Ouachita Parish, and all of Northeast Louisiana. We will all lift each other up.”

Family and the Future 
Along the way, Roy and Beth married and had three children – Sarah (who works at InterMountain), Emma (a palliative care Nurse Practitioner at St. Francis Health), and John (who works for Shell in New Orleans). His son-in-law David works for Drax, and daughter-in-law Annette teaches in Madisonville. All three of their children graduated from Neville, and the girls (and their mother) have degrees from ULM. John graduated from LSU. 

There are now 6 grandchildren in the family. Adelaide, Henry, and Levi live just 3 doors down from Beth and Roy. Jack, Anne Marie, and Elizabeth live in Covington. “My grandkids call me ‘Coach’ and they call Beth ‘BFF’,” Roy explains. “I coached all three of my kids’ little league teams so most of their friends call me Coach Roy. When our great-niece couldn’t say ‘Beth’, she said ‘BFF’ and it caught on.”

Roy credits both God and Beth for the great things that have happened to him. “God had blessed me way more than I deserve; he saved me” Roy says. “And there are no words to describe the role Beth has played in my life, both personal and professional. She is my biggest cheerleader and best friend.”  

When his life gets simpler (surely one day he will retire), Roy has several things on his bucket list. He wants to see the New England fall foliage. Fall is his favorite season and he wants to see those beautiful colors in person. Perhaps he can make that trip aboard a train – he loves trains and would love to ride them around America. He would also enjoy visiting Ireland one day. Not surprisingly, Roy hopes to visit as many baseball stadiums as he possibly can! Roy also hopes to have more time to serve his church, First Methodist – Monroe. His faith is bedrock for Roy, and he wants to work in some capacity serving God more in the coming years. His top priority? Spending time with Beth and his dog, Rocky – with a little fishing and a good book thrown in.

When asked what advice he would give to someone considering a career in business development, Roy said that he would first remind that person that they can make a difference. He would point out the number of young or emerging professionals who are engaging and impacting the community in such a positive way.

“It is a BEAUTIFUL Day in Monroe ” 
Every time Roy stands before a group to speak, he begins with “It is a BEAUTIFUL Day in Monroe, Louisiana!” The only deviation comes when he is speaking about the parish or region. Then it becomes a beautiful day in “Ouachita Parish” or “Northeast Louisiana.” Having said that, Roy then follows with Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you – plans to give you hope and a future.”

Roy is an experienced professional who understands from that experience the importance of both positivity and faith. “This city and region are that shining light on the hill,” Roy says. “Our future is bright and together we are offering hope. Look at our leaders, look at our people, look at our resources. I can’t wait to see all the great things we are going to do together. By the way, I really do think that people who don’t live here are jealous.”